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Ron Spomer

Ron Spomer has been photographing and writing about the outdoors for nearly four decades. He's written seve...

Ron Spomer has been photographing and writing about the outdoors for nearly four decades. He's written seven books, hunted on six continents and been published in more than 120 magazines. He's currently rifles' editor at "Sporting Classics," Travel columnist at "Sports Afield," Field Editor at "American Hunter" and "Guns & Ammo" -- Optics Columnist at "North American Hunter," Contributing Editor at "Successful Hunter," Senior Writer at "Gun Hunter," and TV host of "Winchester World of Whitetail." He will write on Shooting Tips weekly for sportsmansguide.com. You can read his blogs and catch some of his YouTube videos at www.Ronspomeroutdoors.com.

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Best Deer Cartridge

Deer hunters are always wondering what the best caliber is. What they really mean is “what’s the best cartridge?”

Caliber refers to the diameter of the bullet. Cartridge means the shape AND caliber.

Ron Spomer

A .30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and .300 Weatherby Magnum are all the same caliber, but vastly different cartridges. They can and often do shoot the same bullets, but at different speeds. The .30-30 can drive a 150-grain flat nose about 2,400 feet per second (fps). A .308 Win. will push a 150-grain spire point 3,000 fps, a .30-06 will move it 3,100 fps and the .300 Weatherby will send it screaming at 3,400 fps.

They’ll all kill deer.

So which is best?

There are a lot of cartridges that fire the 7mm (.284-inch) bullets, but the third from the left, the 7mm-08 Rem., is considered by many to be the perfect one for whitetails.

None. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t an ideal deer cartridge out there.

The thing is, one man’s ideal is another man’s garbage. For argument, let’s outline what a good, all-round whitetail cartridge should have/be:

1. Accurate. Of course, but how accurate? Despite everyone’s preoccupation with sub-MOA (Minute of Angle), target-grade performance, any rifle that clusters three shots inside of a 2-inch circle is going to hit every broadside deer out to 300 yards. But most factory rifles shoot closer to MOA right out of the box, so no worries.

2. Minimal recoil. Experienced shooters can teach themselves to endure the kick of .375 H&H magnums, but the average deer hunter doesn’t shoot enough to resist flinching when he fires a .30-06. Accuracy (hitting what you shoot at) is way more important than a few hundred more fps or foot pounds.

Headstamp on bottom of a 7mm-08 cartridge. This could be the gravestone epitaph for many a whitetail — maybe one in your future?

3. Reasonably flat trajectory. The sleeker and more aerodynamically efficient a bullet, the farther it flies before being pulled to the ground. The faster it leaves the rifle, the farther and flatter it flies. But too much velocity means increased recoil, so there’s a limit here. A good rule of thumb: the bullet should strike the deer somewhere in the chest if aimed center chest. Any cartridge/bullet combination that can do that out to 300 yards is more than ready for prime time.

4. Good striking energy. Terminal bullet energy is often stated as 1,000 foot pounds to cleanly kill deer. This doesn’t mean that one landing with 500 f.p. is going to bounce off. Energy alone doesn’t kill, but 1,000 f.p. is a reasonable standard.

5. Common and available ammunition. You don’t want to have to buy ammo from a specialty shop at $80 a box. Ammo for a deer rifle should be widely available.

6. Comfortable rifle size, weight. Who wants to drag a 10-pound rifle where a 7-pounder will suffice? Who wants to fight a 24-inch barrel through the brush when 22- or even 20-inches will suffice?

The ultimate bullet in a 7mm-08 is the 140-grain spitzer boattail. Driven 2,900 fps, it will carry more than 1,260 f.p. energy at 500 yards! Zero it 2.5 inches high at 100 yards and it will be dead-on at 230 yards and just 5 inches low at 300 yards. Aim at the center of a deer’s 16-inch vital chest and you score a killing blow to the heart/lungs every time. A 10 mph right-angle wind will deflect that bullet just 3 inches at 200 yards, 6 inches at 300 yards. You’re still in the chest with a center hold. What could be easier?

In a 7-pound rifle, felt recoil will be 15 f.p. A 150-grain load in a .30-06 of the same weight will be 21 f.p. Virtually every bolt-action repeater comes in 7mm-08 Rem. Look for one. You won’t be sorry.

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16 Responses to “Best Deer Cartridge”

DONALD bOUSCHOR

I live in MI whitetail country. Am 82 years old – Korean War vet and have fired everything the Army had from take cannons to all the weapons that were hand carried.

I own about 14 deer and bird guns – my favorite is the Ruger single shot in 375 Winchester for deer. Great ballistics. Had the stock redone by a master wood man. A beautiful gun that should be published in Gun Digest. Only problem is the high cost of ammo. Going to solve that by reloading.

Larry Pohovich

I use a .308, but for very obvious reasons. Very common and lots of options. Especially when reloading. I can nearly duplicate the same performance of the 7mm08 or get close to the 30-06. I shoot a Tikka T3 Light that is easy to carry and handle. Very accurate rifle. I’m sure I would like a 7mm08 but never saw the advantage sense I reload and have all the options available for the .308 cartridge. Last winter I decided to go with a lighter rifle and lighten up on the loads. It did not affect the accuracy once I got the scope sighted in. After using a .308 for years, I can’t see why it isn’t much more popular. I guess it doesn’t have the magnum glamour or the hype associated with the 30-06. When it comes to reloading, it uses less powder and the barrel isn’t as likely to burn out. Shelf ammo is very common and less expensive too.

Tom Kacheroski

James: If I understand your question correctly, I think you’re asking “what is the lightest recoiling centerfire cartridge I can use for deer hunting?” Each state regulates this, so check local regulations. The 223 Rem. will take deer if you hit them in the boiler room or neck/brain, but a better option is the 243 Winchester. It will shoot flat enough for a dead-on hold out to 300 yards with a 95 grain Winchester Ballistic Sivertip bullet. Recoil is less than 14 foot pounds energy. A 30-06 Springfield has more like 25 foot pounds recoil energy.

To my knowledge the Garand autoloading service rifle shoots a 30-06 Springfield, which shoots a .308-inch diameter bullet. The 308 Winchester cartridge is a shortened version of the 30-06 that can only be fired in a rifle chambered for 308 Winchester. It also shoots a .308-inch diameter bullet.

David Morris

Excellent article that I will forward to the net person that asks me this common question. I use a 30-06 simply because that was my first rifle as a teenager and it has never failed me. However, I agree with the author. If I were to go out and buy a new bolt gun for deer I would get it in 7mm-08 for all the reasons stated above.

Charles Grissom

I have a Model 70- 270- Win I bought the rifle from a old man whom bought it new 1953 I have taken bear, elk, Deer, and won many comps and have shot with just about every rifle up to a 1000 yd I just done a shoot at 700 yd no one in the party that was there beat me i got the rifle 1963 and i have shot many rounds i reload my own I hit the target 10in-W 24in Tall 8 times out of 10 we had two crosswinds one to the left at 400 and one to right at 700 so i guess i will stay with my 270 and i have a 700 mag also and 30-06 30-30 and many more But i love this old 270 hard to beat

Charles Grissom

I would like to add that i have used 4831 powder for years back in the days i would buy the powder by the keg and i used 59 grain of powder and a 150 grain bullett it seem to be the best for this model 70-270 Win, I shot a big brown bear at 350yd he droped and layed for 45 min, then got up but i had blew out the neck bones and i had to shoot again to finish him off he dressed out at 580 lb that was in 1968 sept 8 at 8:am I have pictures of this bear

David Vaughn

Just got my first rifle that wasn’t a 22. It appears that Indiana will have it’s first ever rifle season next year and so I wanted to be ready. After looking around and after talking to common folks like most of us are, I settled on the Remington 783 in 270 and here is why: (1 )this gun shoots outrageous groups right out of the box; (2)bullets are relatively inexpensive and (3) available just about anywhere; (4) I intend to go to Colorado where my son lives and try antelope, mule deer and hopefully, elk hunting. This gun should be sufficient for all of these species. We will see.

Mike Madden

Always enjoy articles like this. I think the author is probably dead on with the 7-08. My only concern is availability in remote areas. I use a Win. Mod 70 in 270. I’m not sure it is any better but I have never found an ammunition stocking store that didn’t have it on hand. It does have a little longer bolt travel but that only matters if you need a quick second shot. When I think I’ll be in that situation, like hog hunting, I take a Remington pump carbine in 308. Both rifles are very sweet to shoot . The 270 has given 3 young adults one shot kills with their first shot ever from a centerfire rifle. I enjoyed watching that as much as shooting one myself, maybe more.

Wilton Adriano

David Groves

My 7mm rifle is the 7X57 Mauser. It has a longer case than the 7-08 (57mm vs. 51mm) and therefore can be handloaded to about 100 fps MV more than the 7-08, but only when used in a modern, strong action. Don’t try that in a sporterized M93, M95, or any other pre M98 Mauser military action. Factory ammo is downloaded to 2660 fps MV in 140 grain, and 2440 fps MV in 175 grain loads for use in old military actions.

Not going to find 7X57 ammo in too many rural areas, but when I do, the prices are 2 or 3 years out of date – cheap. Found 2 boxes of Federal Premium (Gold Box) 140 grain Nosler Partition for $24.50 a box! In a little rural “Farm supply” store about 50 miles south of Abilene, TX.

GERALD COFFEY

Matt Dybedahl

I recently did some research on an old Remington 12A that I received and might be able to help. Do you have any pictures of the rifle? Is there any engraving on the barrel, receiver or anywhere else on the firearm? If I have that information, I think I can find at least some general info for you.

News, Adventures & Links By State

Author

Ron Spomer

Ron Spomer has been photographing and writing about the outdoors for nearly four decades. He's written seve...

Ron Spomer has been photographing and writing about the outdoors for nearly four decades. He's written seven books, hunted on six continents and been published in more than 120 magazines. He's currently rifles' editor at "Sporting Classics," Travel columnist at "Sports Afield," Field Editor at "American Hunter" and "Guns & Ammo" -- Optics Columnist at "North American Hunter," Contributing Editor at "Successful Hunter," Senior Writer at "Gun Hunter," and TV host of "Winchester World of Whitetail." He will write on Shooting Tips weekly for sportsmansguide.com. You can read his blogs and catch some of his YouTube videos at www.Ronspomeroutdoors.com.